Woman sitting on porch struck and killed by car, man arrested

Authorities say 18-year-old Elizabeth Shingles was sitting on her porch a little after midnight when a vehicle lost control on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard – striking her.

Shingles was pronounced dead at 12:25 a.m. Tuesday at the Columbus Medical Center.

Coroner Bill Thrower says she sustained scratches and bruises to her body. He says autopsy results reveal Shingles died from blunt forced trauma to the torso.

Officials say the driver of the car, 32-year-old Leo Matthews, is currently in custody. He faces charges of homicide by vehicle, two counts of driving under the influence, two counts of reckless driving, two counts of driving with a suspended license, two counts of leaving the scene of an accident, two counts of not reporting an accident and no proof of insurance.

Meanwhile, neighbors and family are saying this was not an accident.

The mother of the victim says her daughter was sitting on the porch when the driver of the car hit her not once -- but twice. Her mother told News Leader 9 she was upstairs looking out of the window when it happened.

Shingles leaves behind a 2-year-old daughter.

Matthews is being held at the Muscogee County Jail. He is scheduled to appear in Recorder's Court Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.

News Leader 9 is following this story. We'll have a report beginning on News Leader 9 at Noon.